Fifteen days after resigning from his job at a Fiat factory, Mauricio, 37, is building a mud house on a remote plot in La Paz, Córdoba. With no water or electricity, he prepares a new life for his wife and three children, determined to escape the pace of city living.
Fifteen days after leaving his job at a Fiat factory in Buenos Aires, Mauricio, 37, is working to build a new life for his family on a remote plot in La Paz, Córdoba. The land, which he bought two years ago, has no access to water or electricity. Yet for Mauricio, the absence of basic services is part of the challenge he willingly accepted in pursuit of a quieter, more self-sufficient existence.
He is constructing a house from wood, straw, and mud, aiming to create a home for his wife and three children. The project is still in its early stages: the land was overgrown when he purchased it, requiring months of clearing before any building could begin. While the house remains unfinished, Mauricio uses the space to spend time with his children, camping on the property and gradually shaping it into a place they can eventually call home.
From City Life to Rural Ambition
Mauricio grew up in Buenos Aires but often visited a farm as a child, where he imagined one day growing his own food and raising animals. Years of study, work, and family responsibilities kept that dream on hold. The decision to finally buy land in La Paz marked a turning point, but the reality of rural life has proven demanding. The plot is still without water or electricity, and his family has not yet moved in, as the house is not ready for permanent living.
According to Mauricio, the nearest electricity line is 17 blocks away, making connection costly and complicated. For water, he hopes to find an underground source using dowsing rods, though there is no technical confirmation that water is present beneath the property. Until these essentials are secured, the move remains on hold.
Rejecting the Urban Pace
For Mauricio, leaving his job at Fiat was not a reckless leap but a deliberate rejection of the relentless pace of city life. He says he has left jobs before in search of something more meaningful and is untroubled by uncertainty. "In the city, we live so fast that we forget to breathe and enjoy life," he explains. He questions the logic of working all year for a brief vacation, arguing that it is possible to live disconnected from the urban grind year-round.
His story echoes those of others who have left city noise behind for rural projects built with earth, straw, and recycled materials. The challenges are significant—especially the lack of basic infrastructure—but for Mauricio, the process itself is a form of liberation.
What Lies Ahead
Before his family can join him, Mauricio must solve the problems of water, electricity, and making the house habitable. These are common hurdles for people starting rural lives in Argentina, as noted by similar stories featured on YouTube channels like Crónicas del Cambio. For now, the unfinished house stands as a symbol of his commitment to a different way of living—one that values time, autonomy, and the possibility of building something lasting from the ground up.
